One of the bigger strategic moves CBS made for their Fall 2011 Schedule is moving venerable warhorse CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION off its normal Thursday night perch at 9:00 to Wednesday at 10:00 pm to make way for the new J.J. Abrams produced series PERSON OF INTEREST.

While speaking to the press today regarding their new schedule, Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, CBS Primetime, explains that the CSI franchise (CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, CSI: NY, CSI: MIAMI) is alive and well even when the shows occasionally move.

“Each [CSI] is winning its time period,” says Kahl. “It’s not like we’re dragging them along. [Moving] NEW YORK revitalized Friday, [moving] MIAMI revitalized Sunday. These are healthy franchises that any other network would be happy to have.”

As for the Wednesday move for the CSI mothership, Kahl says he’s confident the same will happen there.

“We are hoping to give stability at 10:00 pm,” adds Kahl. “Last year we didn’t get what we wanted. CSI is a top drama. CSI: NY lived and breathed there and was a very good companion [to CRIMINAL MINDS]. Again, now we have great stability on Wednesday night. We’re not going to be a bump in the road there.”